Toy building construction.



J. E. EUWER.

TOY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12. I916.

li wll mfiu Patented July 2,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W7 T NE SS MAQMM J. E. EUWER.

TOY BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 12, 1916. v 31 ,%?1, 1L Q50 7 Patented July 2, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET- 2.

l V/TNESS ill) Iron nurnnrne corrernucrron.

} nannies.

specification or batters Patent.

application tiled Italy it, rare. ,derlalito. innate.

lb all whom it may concern:

Be it lrnown that l, .l'arnss citizen of the United States, residing in 'llopeka, county of ghawnee, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful improvements in lloy Building Constructions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to toy building construction, and more particularly to toy construction of sheet metal which simulates in appearance the modern structural steel used in building bridges, skyscrapers, towers, cranes and the hire. Furthermore, m invention pertains especially to toy bui ding construction of the lrind where a hollow box column or girder simulating a commercial lattice girder may be built up from. a comparatively small number of sheet metal strips. v v

@ne of the-primary objects of my invention is to provide an improved form of strip which is adapted to be combined with a plurality of like strips-in such a manner that a very close simulation of a large commercial latltlice girder can be readily and quickly bu t.

Another object of my invention is to provide a separable toy column or irder in the form of a box having parallel fl at danges at the corners thereof so as to simulate modern structural steel very closely.

lit is also an obiect of the invention to fun nish a toy building set including strips of difil'erent sizes, which in spite of the diderence of size can be attached end to end in a rigid manner by the use of a minimum number of fastening members,

ll also contemplate the provision of improved means for forming a separable butt joint between the meeting ends of two strips of the same size.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a short column or girder embodying my improvements; Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. i; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4t is a top plan view of a box column irder of smaller size;

igs. 5 and 6 are inside face views of the E. Fewer, a

large and intermediate sine strips respectively;

F g. 5? a face view of the small strip Fig. 8 is a fragmentary face view showing the manner of interconnecting the strips shown in Figs. 5, 8 and l Fig. 9 is an end view of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail of the "endwise connection between two similar strips;

Fig. ii is a section on line ll -ll of Fig. 10 and i2 is a detail of the connecting plate shown in Figs. 10 and ll:

Referring to the drawing, and more particularly to l. to 3 inclusive, l have shown one example of a detachable toy boa: girder or column embodying my improvement. lhis girder or column as shown comprises a pair of opposing sheet metal strips, a0, a second pair of sheet metal strips, 21 set in between said first strips, to space them apart, said first strips having means for preventing outward displacement of the strips of the second pair, and also having means for preventing inward displacement of the strips of the second pair, each of said strips being cut out intermediate of the ends to present a plurality of openings, creating integral members extending between and interconnecting the side edge portions of the strips, there being detachable fastening members such as bolts, 22, passing through the end portions of the first pair of strips, and transversely across the hon-lithe structure for holding all of the strips separably together as a miniature box girder or column. In this example the strips 20 are wider than the strips 21.. The strip 20. 5) is formed from a sheet metal blank cut away at 23 and 24 to present a plurality of integral diagonals or truss members, 25, which extend between and interconnect the flat side margins, 26, of the strips. lhese diagonals 25, 1ntersect along the median line of the strip and at the points of intersection the strip is provided with bolt receiving perforations 2'2. The strip is also provided at other points with further bolt receiving perforations 28. Two of the perforations 2? are located near the respective ends of the strip but beyond these perforations and at the extreme ends of the strip the latter is cut away at 29 so that certain of the diagonals 25 entend completely to the end of the strip at the i antenna ran a, rare.

till

tit)

ill

dli

ldti

corners thereof, as shown. At the inner parts of the angular cut-outs or openings, 24:, suitable spacing members are provided. Preferably these are constituted by lugs or flanges struck up integrally from the strip in the process of making the openings 24. All of these lugs 30 are turned in the same direction and those at each side of the strip are alined with each other lengthw1se of the strip.- At the outer parts of the openings or cut-outs 23, flanges or lugs 31 sim lar to the lugs 30 are bent up in the same direction as said lugs 30. The lugs 30, 31 may be readily formed in manufacturing the strip by leaving certain portlons of metal at certain apices of the angular openings, and then bending up these portions of metal out of the plane of the strip, so that they are all turned in the same general direction. The in s 31 at each edge portion of the strip are aimed with each other but somewhat out of alinement with the lugs 30 at the same side of the strip, so that the two sets of lugs form a double series creating a seat or channel in which the edge of another strip may be received, as hereinafter explained.

It will be observed that while the two double series of lugs 30, 31 are located at oppo site sides respectively of the median line of the strip they are spaced at some dlstance from the extreme side edges of the strip and that the strip has fiat marginal portions extending to some distance laterally beyond the respective channels or seats provided by said lugs. At the extreme ends of the strip, lugs 32 are bent up which are alined with and correspond to the lugs 31, but are only one half as wide as said lugs 31.

The strip 21 shown in detail in Fig. 6 is generally similar to the strip 20. It has angular cut away portions 33, 34 presenting diagonals 35 which intersect each other and are provided at the intersections with bolt receiving perforations 36; and the strip is furthermore provided with interrupted lengthwise channels or seats formed by lu s 30, 31*, 32 corresponding to the lugs on t e larger strips.

It will now be apparent that when it is desired to form a toy box girder or column as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, two of the strips 20 are placed opposite each other with the lugs at the inside, and two strips 21 are set in between the strips 20 to space them apart, the plain side edges of the strips 21 being inserted in theseats, formed by the lugs 30, 31, 32, as shown in Fig. 3. These lugs are so formed and arranged as to grip the strips 21 rather tightly at the side faces thereof owing to the spring in the metal of which the lugs are made, so that when the several strips are held in the assembled position shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the inner strips 21 will be held against outward displacement by the lugs 31, 32, whereas they tions,

will be held against inward displacement by the lugs 30. The strips may be firmly secured in this assembled osition by means of two bolts 22, passing t rough the perforations 27, at the respective end portions of the large outside strips 20. The bolts 22 are provided with nuts 22, and when these are tightened the parts will be held firmly together so as to form a miniature box girder or column. The girder or column can, however, be readily taken down at any time by removing the bolts, as will be obvious.

The lugs forming each longitudinal seat are arranged in staggered relation, in the particular form shown, but this is not necessary in all cases. In assembling'the girder or column the lugs on the inner spacing strips 21 should preferably be directed inwardly as shown in Fig. 3.

In addition to the strips 20, 21, the toy buildin set includes a plurality of narrow strips 3 each provided with a longitudinal series of equidistant perforations 38. Two of the strips 37 may be interposed between two opposing strips 21 in order to form a ox column or girder of small cross section as shown in Fig. 4. It is evident that the strips may be used in different combinato build girders or columns of which the cross section varies in size and shape.

Another feature of my invention consists in the arrangement whereby strips of different width may be connected end to end in an effective manner by means of a single fastening bolt. The perforations 27, 36, 38 are all of the same diameter and an end perforatlon, 36 of a strip 21 may be placed in mg istry with an end perforation 27 of a strip 20, so that said strips may be interconnected by means of a short fastening bolt 39. It will be observed that when the parts are in this position the side edges of the end portlons of the strip 21 fit exactly between opposite lugs 30 on the end portion of the strip 20. These lugs form in efiect a channel into which the strip 21 may be inserted and then when the fastening bolt 39 is placed in position, the strips can be firmly interconnected without additional fastening means, because obviously the lugs 30 will prevent the strips from turning relatively to each other. Similarly the small strip 37 is of such size as to fit between the lugs 30 on the end portion of the strip 21, so that when a bolt 39 is inserted through one of the openings 38 and through one of the openings 36 registering therewith. to clamp the strip together, the strips will be prevented from turning relatively to each other without the use of an additional bolt.

When it is desired to interconnect two of the wide strips 20 in endwise abutting relation, this may be done by using a connecting plate 40. This plate 40 has a portion 41 at each end adapted to fit between two of the till till

till

narrate it lugs 30 and each portion ll is provided with a perforation 42 adapted to register w th one of the end perforations 27. The meeting end portions of the strips 20 lie in the same plane with the flanges 30 turned in the same direction and the connecting plate to is set over the meeting ends of the strips with its ends engagedin the channels formed by the lugs 30. Bolts 39 are then passed through the registering perforations in the plate and strips to hold the parts firmly together, and in alinement with each other. Uwing to the provision of the lugs 30 neither strip can turn relatively to the connecting plate. The plate iO is provided with a central opening or cut-out l3, certain corners oi? which tit over the small lugs 32 at the ends of the strips, so as to make the construction still more rigid. 'llhis opening or cut-out d3 toether with the outside contour given to the intermediate part of the connecting plate, makes it present diagonal members which register with those of the strips 20. lln this manner the connecting late is substantially invisible from the outside, that is to say, the side opposite the lugs 30, and except for the division line at their meeting ends the two strips have the appearance of a single continuous strip.

A smaller connecting plate (not shown) is provided for connecting two of the strips 21 rigidly end to end by codperating with certain of the lugs or flanges 30 in a similar manner.

Various changesmay be made in the details of the construction without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims. I

What I claim is: v

1. In a toy building set, a fiat sheet metal strip having its edges lying in the same plane as the main body portion thereof, said strip having portions out therefrom whereby intersectingdiagonal members are produced connecting the side edges 01E the strip and having a double series of small projections bent up from the strip adj acent the diagonal members at opposite sides of its median line to form parallel seats for the side edges of similar strips; substantially as described,

2. In a toy building set, a flat strip having a plurality of polygonal openings formed therein to produce integral intersecting members, and lugs struck up at the edges of said openings to form longitudinal double rows of lugson opposite sides of the median line of said strip; substantially as described. 3. In a toy construction block the combination of four sheet metal strips arranged in box-like form, two of said strips set in between the other two to space them apart, the outer strips having flat side margins located in the same plane as the body portions thereof, and being provided with projections struck up from the body portions thereol remote from the side edges to form parallel longitudinal seats for the inner spacing strips, said inner strips having plain side edges engaging said seats, and a fasten ing member passing through the outer strips at each. end or the box-like structure for clamping them on the inner strips; substantially as described.

4.. In a toy construction block, the combination of four sheet metal strips arranged in box-like term, two of said strips arranged opposite each other and having cut away portions presenting diagonals, said strips having plain side edges located in the same plane as the body portion thereof, and be ing also provided with struck up lugs forming longitudinal parallelseats on the inner faces thereof, each of said seats being located intermediate of the median line of the strip and the extreme side edge thereof, the other two strips being set in between the first two and having plain side edges engaging said longitudinal seats, and means for clamping the parts in assembled relation; substantially as described.

5. ln a toy construction block, the combination of a pair of opposing sheet metal strips each provided with cut-outs or openings presenting a plurality of intersecting diagonal members, inturned lugs struck up integrally from each of said strips at the edges of said cut-outs to term longitudinal seats on the inner face of the strip, the lugs of each such seat being arranged in staggered relation and located intermediate the median line of the strip and the extreme side edge thereof, a pair of strips set in between said tirst stri s to space them apart, and having their si e ed es engaged in said longitudinal seats, and bo ts passing through the first strips for holding the parts detachably in assembled relation; substantially as described.

6. in a toy building construction, a wide strip having portions cut therefrom to produce intersecting diagonal members connect lll it'll ltd ll li lllh lid

ing the opposite side edges and. having a perforation in the end portion thereof, a narrow strip'having a perforation in the end portion thereof adapted to register with said first perforation, a bolt adapted to pass through said perforations for clamping said strips together, and lugs struck up from the wide strip in the vertical angles formed by said intersecting members, said lugs being positionedto contact with the side edges of the narrow strip for preventing relative turning movement of the stri s when they are clamped together by said olt.

7. In toy building construction, two strips arranged in endwise abutting relation, each of said strips having portions cut therefrom whereby intersecting diagonal members are produced extending across said stri struck-up lugs formed upon each strip adlib will

plate overlapping the meeting jacent said diagonal members, a connecting ends of said strips, said plate being cut to the configuration of the portions of the strips it overlaps, whereby diagonal members are formed upon said plate which snugly fit between said lugs, and bolts for securing'the connecting plate to the abutting strips; substantially as described.

8. In toy building construction, two sheet metal stri s arranged end to end in an abutting relatlon, both of said strips being cut out to present a plurality of integral diagonal members simulating a commercial lattice steel girder, certain of said diagonal 15 members extending completely to the end of the strip to continue the simulation of a commercial lattice steel girder unbrokenly from one strip to the other, and a plate for interconnecting the strips at their adjacent ends cut to simulate said diagonal members; substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on the 8th day of July 1916.

JAMES E. EUWER. 

